Laser face-lift for WAGS

WAGS of a certain age have a secret weapon to see off younger rivals - a laser to blast away the top layer of their skin. A cosmetic surgery clinic in the Footballers' Wives haven of Alderley Edge is one of the first in the UK to bring in a new form of the hi-tech treatment.

WAGS of a certain age have a secret weapon to see off younger rivals - a laser to blast away the top layer of their skin.

A cosmetic surgery clinic in the Footballers' Wives haven of Alderley Edge is one of the first in the UK to bring in a new form of the hi-tech treatment.

By paying out around £900-a-session, clients can have the top layers of their skin literally burned away with the laser to remove sun damage, age spots and wrinkles.

It is claimed that this allows a second layer skin to grow in its place which will give a more youthful appearance.

Experts say up to five treatments are required for the full benefits of the laser, making the cost of a full course a stinging £4,500.

But Paul Cronin, who runs the Eternal Youth clinic in the affluent Cheshire village, claims there has been no shortage of interest in the new treatment, which is called a "Fraxel" laser.

He said: "It works terribly well and is particularly effective at removing the effects of sun damage on the skin.

"You will see significant benefits from the first treatment but we recommend that people undergo more than one session to see the full benefit.

Sunbeds

"The effects last for a very long time but they depend on people looking after their skin afterwards. If people hit the sunbeds afterwards and don't use sun protection or moisturise then the results will fade very quickly but with the right skin care regime it should last three to four years."

Other forms of laser treatment have been used previously to rejuvenate ageing faces and hands but they are said to leave the skin very red and raw and take up to six weeks to heal.

Mr Cronin claims that the Fraxel laser, developed in the United States, has been developed to eliminate the painful side-effects.

"Other forms of laser will treat the whole surface area but this only treats around 20 to 30 per cent at a time and there is a much shorter recovery time and less discomfort", he added.

The treatment works in a similar way to a chemical peel. The top few millimetres of skin are burned away and it is claimed that the new, unblemished skin grows through within 24 hours.

With the Fraxel laser, the average recovery time is said to be four to five days.